this morning, japan's nuclear crisis grows. radiation, leaking faster than first thought from this crippled plant. children and the elderly checked for exposure. millions still without enough food and heat. and the teetering economy requires another cash infusion today. all of it, japan's biggest test since world war ii. good morning. i'm peggy bunker. >> and i'm rob nelson. japan's nuclear crisis is growing even worse this morning. here's the latest from overnight. >> at the crippled fukushima nuclear plant, radiation is leaking from one of the reactors. thousands of nearby residents have been warned to stay inside. this morning, measurements show

the radiation level at 400-times the safe yearly dose. >> and here, officials are keeping a close eye on this crisis. two navy pumping trucks are said to be on their way to that plant. >> and for thousands of japanese survivors, the situation is growing more desperate. they've now spent a fourth night with no food, water or shelter. thousands, of course, are also worried about whether the government is being truthful about the nuclear risk in all of this. >> we'll be going live to japan in a moment. but we do begin our coverage with emily schmidt. >> reporter: in parts of japan, hit by an earthquake, flattened by a tsunami, a third risk now looms. fear of nuclear meltdown. this evacuee says, that's the most frightening thing. that nobody tells the citizens of what's really happening. but signs of what's happening at the fukushima daiichi plant are not good. there's been three explosions. radioactive material could be leaking from the base of the reactor.

japan's prime minister said today the leaked radiation level is, quote, rather high. other officials added -- >> translator: now, we are talking about levels that can impact human health. i would like you to embrace this information calmly. keep yourself inside the house or workplaces. and watch out for the situation. >> reporter: japanese television echoed the warnings affecting 140,000 people in a 12-mile radius of the reactor. 70,000 have already evacuated. nearby test sites are checking people to see if they've been exposed to radiation. this woman says, i worry very much about the radiation. i don't know what to do. even in tokyo, 170 miles away, there are reports of slightly higher radiation levels. but officials say the levels are too small to threaten people there. the japanese government has reached out to the u.s. for nuclear advice. so, eight more experts from the nuclear regulatory commission are now on their way to japan to try to help.

rob and peggy? >> emily schmidt, thank you for that report. and japanese officials dealing with the nuclear crisis are, quote, freaked out. that's according to one u.s. counterpart. >> that's putting it mildly. abc's akiko fujita joins us from narita, japan. so, how are the japanese people dealing with news of the leak? >> reporter: what we're seeing out in the stores is any indication, not dealing with it very well. we've heard of panic buying, even in tokyo, which you just heard is 170 miles south of the reactor. we have heard reports of stores being sold out of radios, flashlights, candles, fuel cans. essentially any emergency materials. we've also heard of grocery stores, their shelves being cleared. keep in mind that food and water was already in short supply immediately after the quake hit. people went out to the stores to stock up. now, with reports of the explosion today, people are adding to that panic.

>> and, akiko, considering that the wind is blowing from the plant in your direction, meaning towards tokyo, how concerned are officials there about all this radiation spreading? >> reporter: well, you know, officials are trying to walk that fine line between showing a calm face and also monitoring it very closely. i mean, clearly, they are concerned. we have seen several press conferences held today. there's report of the prime minister addressing the nation again. and in terms of the winds, we have heard that winds blowing from the northeast are blowing southwest. but they're expected to blow out to sea, eastward, to the pacific, tomorrow. and so, clearly, that's a concern for anybody in that direction. and when you talk to people out here, there is growing concern. people saying, we're not so sure if the government is being honest. >> right. absolutely, which would be concerning. akiko, before we let you go, if they are to get out of the area of this nuclear reactor, how could they leave anyway?

i'm sure many people do want to get away as far as possible. but considering the condition of the roads around the reactors, how could they? >> reporter: well, that is a concern. we've heard reports of people, crews in sendai, which is north of that reactor, trying to get out. we've -- people saying they can't get gas, which is clearly a concern. and then, there's also concern of the roads being jammed, when you have this mass exit going on. that could be a huge issue. already complicating a pretty dangerous situation up there. >> all right. abc's akiko fujita, live outside of tokyo. thank you always for that reporting. and, akiko, continue, of course to be safe. health officials in california say that there is no immediate danger to the states from the radiation threat. but they are still cleaning up from friday's tsunami. officials say the damage estimates could top $40 million. in santa cruz harbor alone, 18 vessels sank.

another 100 were damaged and 12 unaccounted for. and 50 fishing boats are stuck there for at least a week until all of the debris can be cleaned pup. >> of course, more stories from the quake zone later in this half hour and also on "good morning america." live coverage from our team in japan, including diane sawyer and david muir. and now, for this morning's weather around the country. a pretty wet day from seattle to san francisco. up to three feet of mountain snow in the cascades. and a foot in the rockies. a wintry mix from the dakotas to northern minnesota. some showers in the ohio valley down to nashville, charleston, west virginia, raleigh and atlanta. >> 45 degrees in boston. 51 in baltimore. 66 in new orleans. chicago gets up to 45. omaha, 56. and fargo, 37 degrees. 50s from seattle to boise and billings. and sacramento gets up to 65. phoenix, coming in near 90. we'll have the other morning's top -- this morning's other news coming up next, including a dolphin nearly crushes a woman in florida. bizarre story there. >> you have to see that. also, death on the launch pad.

how a worker died while preparing "endeavour" for liftoff. and we'll return to the quake zone, as misplaced family members find each other, five days into this tragedy. ererererr

and welcome back, everybody. we do have other news to report on this tuesday morning. there's been a second, fatal tour bus accident in the new york area. the driver and a male passenger were killed in a crash on the new jersey turnpike near east brunswick last night. this, of course, following

15 passengers that died in saturday's bus crash near new york city. the driver of that accident will be questioned by police later today. a worker has died after falling from the lanch pad at kennedy space center. he was identified as james vanover, a contractor for nasa space alliance. "endeavour" is being prepped for the final launch. it's the first launch pad fatality there in 30 years. opposition fighters in libya are holding on to the key city of benghazi. residents remain defiant. but both sides are claiming control of several other cities. meanwhile, in paris, secretary of state hillary clinton held the first high-level u.s. meeting with the libyan opposition. and as the wave of civil unrest escalates in the arab world, the u.s. is urging americans to avoid traveling to bahrain. and u.s. citizens already in that tiny nation are being told to consider leaving. protesters were outraged after military forces from saudi

arabia and other gulf nations entered bahrain yesterday in support of its monarchy. and the top u.s. commander in afghanistan, general david petraeus, heads to criminapitol today. he says that forces can begin wauing troops as planned. one senior official says a substantial reduction is now likely. a dolphin-watching trip turned into something a little more upclose and personal for some boaters in florida. they were looking over the side when suddenly a 600-pound bottle nose dolphin launched itself at them in the boat. it took about ten men to lift that giant animal, using a back board meant for spinal injuries. neither the boaters nor the dolphin were seriously hurt. wow. >> impressive. it could tell it was in the wrong place. >> a little different than the water. we do have more coming up from japan, when we come scientists now say the megaquake is actually stronger than first

thought. and ground zero of the nuclear crisis. we'll explain exactly what is going on at that crippled plant. ok, allie's spelling bee is monday... sounds like a mini-wheats day to me! and becka's science fair is on the 8th. she's presenting the solar system. hey, i've got just the wholegrain fiber to keep her full so she can stay focused. um, you rock. [ female announcer ] make your kids big days, mini-wheats days. packed with 100% whole grain fiber, kellogg's frosted mini-wheats cereal has what it takes to help keep your kids full so they can stay focused on the days that matter most.

introducing precise from the makers of tylenol. precise pain relieving heat patch activates sensory receptors. it helps block pain signals for deep penetrating relief you can feel precisely where you need it most. precise. only from the makers of tylenol. 8% every 10 years.age 40, we can start losing muscle -- wow. wow. but you can help fight muscle loss with exercise and ensure muscle health. i've got revigor. what's revigor? it's the amino acid metabolite, hmb to help rebuild muscle and strength naturally lost over time.

[ female announcer ] ensure muscle health has revigor and protto help protect, preserve,

in the recovery. helicopters are delivering amam water, blankets and food to the many who are in need. another ship is due in the quake zone today. one u.s. official is speaking in the starkest of terms about the nuclear crisis now unfolding in japan, calling it catastrophic. it's all taking place right now at the fukushima daiichi nuclear plant. >> that plant is located about 170 miles north of japan's capital, tokyo. but south of the city sendai. that's the closest major city to the epicenter of friday's quake. >> the satellite image shows the explosion at the plant's unit

two. that blast was immediately regarded as much more serious than the previous blasts that took place at units one and three. there was also a brief fire this morning inside unit four. >> although that was extinguished quickly, it also led to a release of radioactive materials into the air. that release resulted in an elevated level of radiation in and around that plant. all but 50 of the 800 workers at the plant have been removed. >> everybody talking about the radiation. and slightly higher radiation levels have been detected in tokyo today. but officials there are saying there's no immediate risk to public health. >> but does it pose a threat here in the u.s.? here with that story is martha raddatz. >> reporter: we wanted to know, what is the worst-case scenario in japan? >> the reactor cores in several reactors get so hot, they fuse into a molten mass, spewing into the water, air, and ground. >> reporter: unlike chernobyl, the japanese reactors are

surrounded by six-foot steel and concrete containment vessels. even multiple reactor meltdowns would not likely be as bad as chernobyl. but if there were meltdowns, how far could the radiation travel? >> if the wind is blowing out to the ocean, as it usually does, then most of the contamination goes out there. if the wind shifts south, some of the most heavily-populated areas of japan are at risk, including tokyo itself. >> reporter: how about the u.s.? >> the fires could be so hot, it could send radioactive particles, carrying it across the pacific. >> reporter: the nuclear regulatory commission says even if that happens, there's a low likelihood that any harmful radiation would reach the u.s. or its territories. but uncertainty could continue for weeks in a scenario where there is no meltdown, but the reactors are not stabilized, either. martha raddatz, abc news, washington. grim news here. japanese officials say the death toll could climb beyond 10,000

in the destroyed towns that, 5 days later, are still inaccessible. >> that's right. meanwhile, our bill weir was able to make it to one of the hardest-hit towns in the quake zone. >> reporter: every passing day brings more images of the tsunami's wrath. like this stunning, new video of the crushing wave taking out the entire town of minami sanriku. about 50 miles away from our location. 10,000 people, nearly half the population, are feared dead. and there are gruesome reports that crematorium, which can only handle 18 bodies a day, is completely overwhelmed. and everywhere you go, the ongoing, exhausting search for loved ones. this man has been searching for his wife, the only way he can. riding his bicycle with her name on a paper sign.

we push on to ishinomaki and find the only working hospital for miles. a steady stream of wounded arrive by air and ground. and fill nearly every bit of the floor space inside. i have to tell you, none of the physical destruction packs the same emotional wallop as what's going on inside this tent. there are lists of names here. all people who have been treated at this hospital. and waiting patiently outside, is this heartbreaking line of humanity. every one of these people has lost a loved one. they're hoping against hope, they will get inside, read their name, and know they're still alive. every few minutes is filled with disappointment, or pure, joyful relief. since the quake, these sisters spent every day and every drop of gas, hunting for each other. you just found each other now? they came here alone and desperate. they leave together. then, there is elsa, who has six relatives in america. and desperately wants her sister to know she's okay. hi, this message is for elana.

elana, this is bill weir with abc news. i'm in northern japan right now. and i just saw your sister, elsa. she's okay. and she wanted you to know that and that she loves you. hope you get this message. after all the horrific details coming from japan, there is one absolutely miraculous story of survival this morning. japanese rescuers found a 4-month-old girl in the debris of one village. it's believed that little girl survived three days all alone. >> now, amid the chaos, she was reunited with her father. and just moments later, another tsunami warning came. but it was followed by the all-clear. so, a couple of good stories among the devastation. >> glimmers of hope. >> yeah. what you really need. coming up next, japan's economy takes another hit today. plus, a looming shortage of japanese goods. even the popular prius could be in short supply. . [ shrek ] calm down donkey.

it's vacation time! ohhhhh, who ays ogres can't surf? nice moves fiona! ha, ha, ha, i love3d. wooo hooooo! [ shrek ] gingy! [ laughs ] hey do the roar. roooooar! yeah marty, what's shrek doing on acruise ship? looks like he's having fun! [ female announcer ] join the dreamworks experience for the ultimate vacation, only on royal caribbean. ...but my symptoms kept coming back... ...kept coming back. then i found out advair helps prevent symptoms from happening in the first place. advair is for asthma that's not well controlled on a long-term asthma medicine, such as an inhaled corticosteroid. advair will not replace a rescue inhaler

for sudden symptoms. advair contains salmeterol which increases the risk of death from asthma problems and may increase the risk of hospitalization in children and adolescents. advair is not for people whose asthma is well controlled with a long-term asthma control medicine like an inhaled corticosteroid. once your asthma is well controlled your doctor will decide if you can stop advair without loss of control and prescribe a different asthma control medicine, such as an inhaled corticosteroid. do not take advair more than prescribed. see your doctor if your asthma does not improve or gets worse. is advair right for you? ask your doctor. get your first prescription free. advair helps prevent symptoms. prepare to be delighted by fresh, wonderfully light, creamy light & fit. with 80 calories versus 100 in the other leading brand. live light & fit. to finish what you started today.

for the aches and sleeplessness in between, there's motrin pm. no other medicine, not even advil pm, is more effective for pain and sleeplessness. motrin pm. the latest explosion at the fukushima nuclear power plant has created a panic among investors. japan's benchmark nikkei average closed the day down nearly 11%, when going down nearly 14% at one point.

stocks tumbled 6% yesterday. markets were down sharply elsewhere in asia this morning. hong kong's hang seng sank nearly 3%. in london, the ftse fell nearly 1% yesterday. and on wall street, the dow fell 51 points yesterday. meanwhile, the nasdaq lost 14 points. toyota has shut down production until at least tomorrow. and that also could lead to a shortage in priuses. many dealers are worried that they won't be able to meet surging demand for the hybrid cars. demand is tight because of the jumping gas prices over the last two months. the nasdaq is moving closer to making a hostile bid for the new york stock exchange. published reports say the nasdaq's owner is in talks with banks to line up financing for a bid. a deal could break up the new york stock exchange's planned merger with a german company. gas prices have climbed now for the sixth-straight week. the national average is now $3.57 a gallon. that's up another 5 cents in the past week. hawaii has been the hardest hit. it's now the first state to average more than $4 a gallon. the first time that's happened since 2008. for some of you now, your

local news is next. then pair it with a massive texas toast half sandwich, like our delicious classic turkey or our gigantic new southwestern blt, smothered in cilantro lime mayo and jam-packed with three glorious slices of applewood smoked bacon. served with fries, that's big flavor for just 6 bucks! the $6 break for bold, weekdays at chili's. ♪ [ male announcer ] what are you gonna miss when you have anallergy attack? benadryl® is more effective than claritin® at relieving your worst symptoms and works when you need it most. benadryl®. .you can't pause life.

all you expect from the number-one recommended detergent by dermatologists. all free clear is free of dyes and perfumes. and has powerful stainlifters to help get your whole wash clean. it's all good. was just voted product of the year? in a national survey, thousands of americans voted. aquafresh iso-active was the clear winner! we guarantee it will be your favorite, too, or your money back. try aquafresh iso-active. the cream disappears but your wrinkles don't. ♪ introducing neutrogena® rapid wrinkle repair. it has the fastest retinol formula available. in fact it's clinically proven to smooth wrinkles in just one week. so all you have to do is sit back and watch your wrinkles go away. new rapid wrinkle repair. from neutrogena®.

up neck at 4:30. san francisco on the hunt for suspects after five people are shot at mission street bar. more than a hundred thousand japanese residents are ordered to stay in their home. more on the changing situation. >> pretty scattered this morning that is good news for the morning commute. it will get even on this fifth day of the disaster in japan, there are still pockets of survivors who have not yet made contact with the outside world. >> yeah. can you imagine?

abc's clarissa ward made her way to one of the hardest-hit areas. >> reporter: with all the aftershocks, our translator is scared to join us on our drive up north. we're armed with only a few japanese phrases. where were you when the tsunami happened, i asked this woman. it washednica this morning.

>> later on "good morning america," searching for the